Yaravirus: Know Its Difference From The Deadly Coronavirus

Coronavirus, officially named by the World Health Organization as COVID-19, has caused fear and panic among nations. This is due to the increasing number of deaths that the virus caused. Alongside the negative popularity of coronavirus, other viruses have seemed to emerge.

One of these viruses is the Yaravirus. This may be the first time that you have also heard of it, but it's worth knowing what it is and how it differs from the deadly coronavirus.

Meet Yaravirus

According to Express, Yara is a mythological water goddess in Brazilian culture. The virus was discovered by scientists in Lake Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, which was an artificial lagoon. Although there was this discovery, there is still very little knowledge of what this virus is all about.

More Information

So far, what experts know about the Yaravirus is that it is an amoebal virus. According to experts, many of the amoeba viruses could be fit into several groups; however, the Yaravirus does not fit into any group. It is also considered as very unique, considering that only 6 out of 74 genes are similar to other genes. Another characteristic of this virus is that it is very small; however, it also can infect amoebas like bigger viruses.

Is There Any Danger for Humans?

Surprisingly, the Yaravirus is the least bit of a virus that humans must worry about. It is not a threat to health since people could not catch it. Scientists would always discover a new virus, and there are many which pose no threat to humans. According to one of the two scientists who discovered the virus, Jônatas S Abrahão, these viruses are harmless to humans. They even play an important role in recycling nutrients and in controlling pests.

Perhaps the biggest question is whether Yaravirus is different or the same with coronavirus. The answer is that they are different. Unlike coronavirus, which has already led to the deaths of many, the Yaravirus will not affect humans. What it does is help research about viruses.

As for coronavirus, taking the proper precautions to prevent the spread of the virus would have to be the goal of everyone. As simple as keeping your hands clean and covering the mouth when sneezing or coughing could mean so much in preventing its spread.